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Cape Town – South African loose forwards are excelling for their high tackle counts in the first few weeks of Super Rugby 2012.
Three “loosies” from our neck of the woods feature among the top five customers for most tackles made after seven rounds of the competition – with the Cheetahs’ dynamic Springbok open-sider Heinrich Brussow leading the way.
The nuggety No 6, according to statistics published in the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday, has made 112 tackles.
He is hotly pursued by Marcell Coetzee, the Sharks youngster who continues to develop nicely in his maiden season at this level, with 109.
Next comes the Force’s Zimbabwean-born fetcher David Pocock (102), with the Chiefs’ big lock Brodie Retallick lying fourth on 96.
The log-leading Stormers have their own flag-carrier among the top five in this department, with Siya Kolisi sharing fifth position with another Chiefs player in Liam Messam (92 each).
Industrious Coetzee hurt a shoulder in the Sharks’ disappointing loss to the Hurricanes and is reportedly in some doubt for the last tour game against the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
Meanwhile Brussow ought to get the chance to build on his proud tackle count when the Cheetahs entertain the Chiefs in an important clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday – the home side will be doing compatriots the Stormers, in particular, a favour if they knock over the best-performing New Zealand outfit at present.
